Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship

Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship

Background:
The fellowship will help fund a proposal designed by the applicant to conduct brief work in a foreign country related to the mandate of UNESCO – using education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and/or communication and information to build strong ties among nations. The fellowship is intended for American college/university students who express an interest in international collaboration but as of yet had not been afforded many opportunities to travel abroad. The length of time for the travel is expected to be between 4 and 6 weeks and should include interaction with individuals from other nations. During his/her travel, the recipient should be willing to participate in public diplomacy events arranged with the pertinent U.S. State Department Consulate, Mission, and/or Embassy. Following the travel, the recipient agrees to submit a report describing experiences and analyzing objectives achieved; share his/her experiences with others; and be available to make a presentation at the Annual Meeting of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.

Funding:
Funding for this fellowship has generously come from a private donation. Future distributions of the fellowship may rely on further donations to the Department of State.

Eligibility:
* Must be a U.S. Citizen eligible for foreign travel
* Must be at least 18 years old and not older than 25 at the time of application
* Must be currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university in the United States

The Application Package:
All material must be submitted electronically to the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Executive Secretariat (DCUNESCO (at)state.gov) by March 1, 2009 (5:00pm EST).

* Completed Application Coversheet (form DS-7646)
* One page summary of project, including items that help provide a concise, clear understanding of proposal, such as:
 – Goal/Objectives/Outcomes
 – Timeline
 – Budget, funding and plan for supplementary funding should it be needed to complete objectives
 – Methodology for monitoring/evaluating success
 – Action plan/ideas for follow-on activities, public diplomacy
 – Any relevant resources or photos
* Essay (up to 500 words, double spaced) stating interest in being considered for the award
* Current résumé
* One page letter of recommendation
* Availability should you be called for an interview

Current Round and Call for Applications:
Spring/Summer 2009 Application Cycle: For applicants who will conduct their work from the period between May and August 2009.

Full details including application instructions and evaluation criteria can be found at: http://www.state.gov/p/io/unesco/c25426.htm.